The United States has designated the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as terrorist organizations [1, 2].
This designation allows the U.S. government to target the financial infrastructure of these groups. By labeling them as terrorists, authorities can more effectively block transactions and freeze assets linked to these organizations, potentially disrupting their ability to operate across international borders [1, 2].
Amanda Roberson, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said the goal is to break illicit financial networks [1]. The move targets the flow of money that supports transnational crime and drug trafficking [2].
Officials said the strategy focuses on the financial flows that sustain these Brazilian criminal organizations [2]. The impact of these sanctions may extend to Brazil’s own financial systems, including the widely used Pix payment system, as the U.S. seeks to isolate the groups from the global economy [1, 2].
While the primary focus remains on financial disruption, the move signals a shift in how the U.S. views organized crime in South America. By applying a terrorism label, the U.S. can employ a broader set of legal tools to monitor and intercept funds that would otherwise be categorized as standard criminal proceeds [1, 2].
In a separate development, Carlos Bolsonaro posted a statement Wednesday, the 11th [3], regarding the involvement of these groups and the necessity of U.S. intervention.
“The goal is to break illicit financial networks.”
The reclassification of the PCC and CV from criminal gangs to terrorist organizations represents a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy toward Brazilian organized crime. This shift allows the U.S. Treasury and State Departments to apply more aggressive sanctions and surveillance tools, effectively treating drug trafficking networks as national security threats rather than mere law enforcement issues.
